Solar terms in 2022
The exact moment of all 24 solar terms in 2022, in China Standard Time and UTC.
| Term | China Standard Time | UTC | Sun at | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor Cold | Jan 5 05:14 PM | Jan 5 09:14 AM | 285° | Cold is building. |
| Major Cold | Jan 20 10:38 AM | Jan 20 02:38 AM | 300° | The coldest stretch. |
| Start of Spring | Feb 4 04:50 AM | Feb 3 08:50 PM | 315° | Spring begins by the old calendar. |
| Rain Water | Feb 19 12:42 AM | Feb 18 04:42 PM | 330° | Snow gives way to rain. |
| Awakening of Insects | Mar 5 10:43 PM | Mar 5 02:43 PM | 345° | Thunder wakes the insects. |
| Spring Equinox | Mar 20 11:33 PM | Mar 20 03:33 PM | 0° | Day and night are equal. |
| Pure Brightness | Apr 5 03:20 AM | Apr 4 07:20 PM | 15° | Clear air; a time to tend family graves. |
| Grain Rain | Apr 20 10:24 AM | Apr 20 02:24 AM | 30° | Rain that helps grain grow. |
| Start of Summer | May 5 08:25 PM | May 5 12:25 PM | 45° | Summer begins. |
| Grain Buds | May 21 09:22 AM | May 21 01:22 AM | 60° | Grain fills but isn’t ripe. |
| Grain in Ear | Jun 6 12:25 AM | Jun 5 04:25 PM | 75° | Time to sow millet and harvest wheat. |
| Summer Solstice | Jun 21 05:13 PM | Jun 21 09:13 AM | 90° | The longest day in the north. |
| Minor Heat | Jul 7 10:37 AM | Jul 7 02:37 AM | 105° | Heat is building. |
| Major Heat | Jul 23 04:07 AM | Jul 22 08:07 PM | 120° | The hottest stretch. |
| Start of Autumn | Aug 7 08:29 PM | Aug 7 12:29 PM | 135° | Autumn begins. |
| End of Heat | Aug 23 11:16 AM | Aug 23 03:16 AM | 150° | The heat ends. |
| White Dew | Sep 7 11:32 PM | Sep 7 03:32 PM | 165° | Dew forms in the cool nights. |
| Autumn Equinox | Sep 23 09:04 AM | Sep 23 01:04 AM | 180° | Day and night are equal again. |
| Cold Dew | Oct 8 03:22 PM | Oct 8 07:22 AM | 195° | Dew turns cold. |
| Frost Descent | Oct 23 06:36 PM | Oct 23 10:36 AM | 210° | The first frost comes. |
| Start of Winter | Nov 7 06:45 PM | Nov 7 10:45 AM | 225° | Winter begins. |
| Minor Snow | Nov 22 04:20 PM | Nov 22 08:20 AM | 240° | Light snow starts. |
| Major Snow | Dec 7 11:46 AM | Dec 7 03:46 AM | 255° | Heavier snow. |
| Winter Solstice | Dec 22 05:47 AM | Dec 21 09:47 PM | 270° | The shortest day in the north. |
Each term is the moment the Sun reaches a set position, so its date is a calculation, not a custom. The names come from farming life in the Yellow River valley and fit other climates loosely.